Tourniquets

ABSTRACT

A TOURNIQUET COMPRISING A COUPLING BODY WHICH FIXEDLY RECEIVES ONE END OF A BAND OR ENCIRCLING MEMBER SUCH AS A RUBBER TUBE OR THE LIKE. THE OPPOSITE END PORTION OF THE BODY ADJUSTABLY RECEIVES THE OTHER END OF THE BAND AND AN ECCENTRICALLY PIVOTED PAWL ENGAGES AND CLAMPS SAID END OF THE BAND BETWEEN IT AND AN END WALL ON THE BODY. THE PAWL IS BIASED OR URGED IN A DIRECTION TOWARD SAID WALL BY A PROJECTING SPRINGY END PORTION OF THE FIXEDLY SECURED END OF THE BAND WHICH ACTS AS A PRESSURE FINGER AGAINST THE PAWL. A PROJECTING FINGER PIECE ON THE PAWL PERMITS ITS RELEASE FROM CLAMPING POSITION.

United States Patent Frank J. Ceravolo 4701 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33308 [21] Appl. No. 803,305

[22] Filed Feb. 28, 1969 [45] Patented June 28,1971

[72] inventor [54] TOURNIQUETS 3. Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 128/327,

24/133, 24/134 [51] lnt.Cl A61b 17/12 [50] Field of Search 24/133 (Recent), 134, 134 (K21); 128/326, 327

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,252,260 1/1918 Gilberg 128/327 1,771,689 7/1930 Owen 128/327 3,492,995 2/1970 Ceravolo 128/327 FOREIGN PATENTS 308,211 10/1918 Germany.... 128/327 1,237,491 3/1967 Germany 24/134 Primary Examiner-Channing L. Pace Al!0rneyErwin Av Yaeger ABSTRACT: A tourniquet comprising a coupling body which fixedly receives one end of a band or encircling member such as a rubber tube or the like. The opposite end portion of the body adjustably receives the other end of the band and an eccentrically pivoted pawl engages and clamps said end of the band between it and an end wall on the body. The pawl is biased or urged in a direction toward said wall by a projecting springy end portion of the fixedly secured end of the band which acts as a pressure finger against the pawl. A projecting finger piece on the pawl permits its release from clamping position.

PATENTEU JUN28I9YI 3,587,585

Frank J.Ceravolo altar 9 TOURNIQUETS The present invention relates to medical or surgical tourniquets of the type shown in my copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 659,923 filed Aug. I 1th, 1967 now US. Pat. No. 3,492,995 and has for one of its objects to provide improvements thereover which result in a simplified construction. The invention contemplates the provision of an article of this character which can be quickly, precisely and easily fitted in position on a patient; which will not pull hair, pinch the skin or otherwise cause discomfort to the patient.

It is an object of the invention to provide an article of this kind which can be arranged in its encircling position to apply the requisite firm pressure and which will remain at the desired tension for an indefinite time and will be found especially valuable in cases of so-called dry phlebotomy."

It is a further object of the invention to provide a low-priced tourniquet for everyday use in hospitals, clinics, doctors offices, laboratories etc. to eliminate the old-fashioned type tourniquet which requires tedious, unstable knotting.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tourniquet so constructed that the encircling band can be readily replaced in case of breaking or for other reasons.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative em bodiment of the invention is shown,

FIG. I is a side elevational view of the coupling means for the tourniquet, one end of the encircling band being shown in position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates generally the encircling band of the tourniquet which is in the form ofa loop that is conventionally placed around the required part of the body of the patient with the required tension. The band is preferably composed of a tubular, flexible, elastic material, such as soft rubber or plastic material of similar characteristics. One end of the band, or that indicated at 2, is arranged to be fixedly mounted in the body or block 4 by being extended through a slot 3 in one end of the body. The block 4 may be composed of plastic or metal. A screw 5 is threadable into the block at right angles to the end 2 of the band and said screw may pass through the end part of the band that lies in the slot. As an alternative, the screw may be used as a set screw and may clampingly engage the band rather than pass through the band. The result sought is the nonshiftable maintenance of the end 2 of the band in the block.

Near the opposite end of the block is provided an eccentrically pivoted pawl 6 having a serrated or otherwise roughened periphery 7. The pawl 6 is eccentrically pivoted in the block as shown at 8. The end portion 2 of the band has a projecting part 9 which projects out of the part 1 0 of the block in which the slot 3 is formed and said projecting part 9 constitutes a spring finger that bears against the periphery of the pawl 6 in a manner to constantly bias the pawl on its eccentric pivot pin 8 and urge the pawl in a direction toward an end wall ll provided on the block.

The pawl 6 is formed with a projecting arm 12 constituting a finger piece and which is employed to manually swing the pawl on its pivot 8 away from the wall 1 l to enable the second end 14 of the band 1 to be inserted between said wall and the pawl.

The arrangement described is such that the band may be quickly and accurately fitted about the limb of a patient and adjusted to the proper tension by the insertion of the end 14 of the band between the wall 11 and the periphery of the pawl 6. The eccentric pivoting of the pawl permits the end of the band to be pulled through the space between the pawl and wall in one direction while resisting its withdrawal in the opposite direction. By pressure of the finger on the finger piece 12 the pawl can be swung toward the left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 and its grip on the band-end 14 released. The springy pressure of the end portion 9 of the band stabilizes the pawl and constantl s rin abl ur es it to ri in osition.

. Th b nd is s en gaged ifi t g b obk by the means herein described and which, when necessary, permit a quick detachment of the band from the block. Thus, in case of breakage of the band or for any other reason, a band can be very quickly replaced. Since the parts firmly engage the band without slippage, it follows that the band, when tensioned about a limb, will maintain the imposed tension indefinitely.

The clamp or coupling may, if desired, be provided with a clip or other attaching means for holding it in the pocket of a physician. The finger piece 12 may be provided with a fingerengaging roughened or serrated surface 15 to facilitate its engagement by the finger.

I claim:

1. In a tourniquet, an encircling band composed of soft, resilient material, a block having a recess into which the first end of the band is fitted and is fixedly held, means carried by the block for holding the second end of the band, said means including an eccentrically pivoted pawl, a fixed wall formed on the block, the first and fixed end of the band extending in a direction toward the pawl and having its end portion in resilient contact with the periphery of the pawl to springably urge the pawl toward the fixed wall and thereby maintain the second end of the band between the periphery of the pawl and the fixed wall.

2. A tourniquet comprising an encircling band of soft, resilient material, means for fixedly holding one end of the band in a coupling member, means for adjustably holding the second end of the band in the coupling, said latter means including a movable clamping member in the form of an eccentrically pivoted pawl, the fixed end of the band having a free portion resiliently bearing directly against the pawl to exert a resilient pressure thereon to urge the pawl against said second end to clamp said second end in the coupling member. I

3. In a tourniquet according to claim 2, wherein the free end portion of the fixed end of the band is maintained in a flexed condition and is thereby caused to exert resilient pressure on the pawl. 1 

